Is Yao Ming Done?

Yes, or at least that seemed to be the consensus yesterday among the basketball pundits. Around the Horn, PTI, SportsCenter, even Inside the NBA on TNT all had their share of flippant declarations that this was indeed the end.

Apparently an ankle sprain that will keep Yao out for about a week is a big enough setback to mean this is all a wash. Yao should hang it up. It was a standard sprain on a pretty ordinary basketball play–though it’s a wonder why Yao every takes a charge of any sort. But, the idea that Yao is finished is ridiculous. At least, for the moment, which was also the pre-sprain status.

The “Yao is done” sentiment and the dismissive nature of how it has generally been made seems more of a call to the Rockets organization to give up on Yao before his body does it to himself again. Admittedly, everyone who saw the play that caused the injury certainly felt a seed of doubt. The report in the sports ticker alone was enough to make stomachs drop out a little. But, this isn’t Eddy Curry we’re talking about, Yao is no bum. He’ll do what it takes to get right. Then we’ll hold our breath and cross our fingers again.

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The Yao Ming of India

You’ve heard of the “next Jordan,” now it’s the next Kobe, Lebron or Dwayne Wade. You don’t often hear of the next Yao Ming, at least, not quite so literally. It is always more of an allusion to his pioneer status. I’ve seen it thrown around in baseball, football, even in business. But, Discover just posted a blog on a kid that may very well be the second coming of Yao Ming in India, Satnam Singh Bhamara. 7-foot, 250 lbs and 14 years old. Of course, Discover has a more scientific take on the original post from NBA Fanhouse.